WestWind Hits Moscow with Diverse European Lineup

French romantic drama 'Just a Sigh' opens EFP event

LONDON — European Film Promotion, which helps stimulate the export of European movies, has unveiled the lineup of WestWind, a showcase of European pics that runs from Oct. 23-27 in Moscow. The event will open with a screening of French romantic drama “Just a Sigh,” which will be presented by helmer Jerome Bonnell.

WestWind includes a diverse program of public screenings, panel discussions and biz meetings. Targeting Moscow’s cinema-going audiences as well as the Russian film industry, the event aims to establish commercial and cultural connections with Russia.

A hand-picked selection of films from across Europe will be presented by their actors and filmmakers at Moscow’s 35mm Cinema. Sales agents will be attending both the biz program and the screenings. “Just a Sigh” (pictured) will be repped by Camille Neel from Le Pacte.

Other pics screening include Spanish thriller “Son of Cain,” introduced by director Jesus Monllao Plana, and repped by Irene Airoldi from Castelao Pictures, and Filmax.

Actor Porgy Franssen will present the “Matterhorn” from The Netherlands. The pics is represented by Sophie Colom from Media Luna New Films. Actress Pollyanna McIntosh will talk about comic tragedy “Love Eternal” from Ireland. The pic is repped by Matteo Lovadina from Reel Suspects.

Helmer Vincent Lannoo will answer questions about Belgian thriller “In the Name of the Son,” which is repped by Federica Mei from Intramovies.

The showcase will also feature “Still Life” by Uberto Pasolini, a poignant, quixotic tale of life. The pic is represented by Tassilo Hallbauer from Beta Cinema.

The showcase also features a public panel discussion at the Gogol Center on “The Power of Stars. Can Actors Drive the Success of Films?,” which will be discussed by Swiss thesp Carla Juri (“Wetlands”), the German director of “Wetlands,” David Wnendt, the U.K. actress Pollyanna McIntosh (“Love Eternal,” which screens at the event), Russian casting director Liza Shmakova, Russian director Kirill Serebrennikov, who is also the director of the Gogol Center, and the film producer Artem Vasiliev.

The event is financially supported by the European Union’s MEDIA Program and the EFP member orgs.